---
title: Nihilism
description: Notes on Nietzche's thought.
author:
  name: Graciela Paula Caldeiro
  url: http://graciela-caldeiro.idoneos.com
canonical: https://philosophy.idoneos.com/nihilism/
source: nihilism/index.md
---

<h2 id="nihilism">Nihilism</h2>

<dl><dt>; Nihilism</dt><dd>Etymologically derived from the Latin &#39;nihil&#39; (nothing). It is a term used to polemically disqualify any doctrine that denies or does not recognize values or values that are considered important.</dd></dl>

Among the antecedents of <a class="wiki" href="/nihilism/">nihilism</a>, [Gorgias](//philosophy.idoneos.com/305265) is attributed an absolute <a class="wiki" href="/nihilism/">nihilism</a> (nothing exists: if something existed, it could not be known; if something could be known, it could not be communicated).

The feeling of hopelessness that emerges in 19th century Russia after Alexander II&#39;s reforms was also called <a class="wiki" href="/nihilism/">nihilism</a>. In this case, the Nihilists intended to break the tradition and found a science-based society inspired by [Comte](//philosophy.idoneos.com/342800). It was therefore a break with previous [romanticism](https://arte.idoneos.com/romanticismo) . Then the nihilists went into political action and were therefore sometimes confused with [anarchists](https://anarquismo.idoneos.com/342822). But in **Nietzsche**, nihilism will be defined according to the will to power. When this will, the essence of life, diminishes, passive nihilism arises, decadence.

<h2 id="subjectivism">Subjectivism</h2>

Nietzsche tried to overcome [Western metaphysics](https://idoneos.com/concepts/metafisica), but only brought **subjectivism** to his roof. Because his concept of &#39;will of power&#39; means that man only wants and asserts himself unlimitedly and the formula of that self-affirmation is consolidated in the &#39;eternal return&#39; thus consummating the &#39;forgetfulness of being&#39;. [Heidegger](//philosophy.idoneos.com/351473)will then resume this idea by turning man into the &#39;lord of the entity&#39;.

<h2 id="to-deepen-the-topic">To deepen the topic</h2>

[The Ambiguity of Nietzche](//philosophy.idoneos.com/343231)

[Nihilism in Nietzche](//philosophy.idoneos.com/343318)